Man Charged After Allegedly Making a Gun Gesture Outside Jewish Synagogue

The incident comes as social tensions continue ratcheting up in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

(Photo by Saeed Khan / AFP) Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images

A man has been charged with allegedly making threatening gestures outside a place of worship on College Crescent, Sydney. 

Located on the crescent is Chabad North Shore, a Jewish synagogue in the suburb of St Ives on the North Shore of Sydney.

New South Wales (NSW) Police officers from Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command were alerted that a passenger inside a car allegedly made a gun gesture pointed at a man walking along Link Road at about 12.30 p.m. on Jan. 4.

“Police will allege in court the car continued driving along the road and the passenger allegedly made the same gesture towards another man at a place of worship,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“The second man reported the alleged incidents to police the same day. Police commenced an investigation and following inquiries, a 20-year-old man was arrested at a home in North Turramurra about 11 p.m. on Monday 6 January 2024.”

He was taken to Hornsby Police Station and charged with stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm. The 20-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear at Hornsby Local Court on Jan. 29, 2025.

In a statement provided to The Epoch Times, NSW Police confirmed the place of worship was on College Crescent.

In response, the Australian Jewish Association said the nation had “never before experienced such a severe wave of antisemitism.”

“Every day, more incidents. A 20 year old man has been charged after allegedly threatening people outside 2 synagogues in Sydney’s North Shore. Has Labor lost control over the streets?” the AJA said on X.

The incident follows a string of episodes targeting the Jewish community including vandalism sprees, and the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, which was left severely damaged on Dec. 6, 2024.

PM Responds to Vandalism of Vehicle

On Jan. 6, a car in Sydney was spray painted with offensive antisemitic language in the city’s east in Queen’s Park.

In response to this incident, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Jan. 7 that the government had “taken action.”

“We’ve appointed the first Envoy on Antisemitism, Jilian Segal, who’s doing a terrific job. We have changed legislation, including introducing legislation for anti-doxxing,” he said.

Albanese pointed out that cultural performers like Deborah Conway had been targeted because “they happen to be Jewish.”

The prime minister also pointed out the government had put extra funding into security measures to support the Jewish community in response to the requests that they’ve received.

“We have, as well, banned hate symbols such as Nazi flags and etc., something that hadn’t been done before. We’re addressing in every single way possible these issues because we understand that it is very hurtful for the Jewish community,” Albanese said.

The overarching Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin raised concerns about racism.

“Sydney. Again. Another suburb with a large Jewish community and multiple Jewish communal facilities. No one just vandalises a car with a racist slogan. It is the product of endless incitement, demonisation and a belief that such attitudes are freely permitted, even celebrated,” Ryvchin said on X.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton backed the Jewish community.

“As fear has permeated our Jewish community, decent Australians have looked on in shock and with disgust at the intimidation, vilification and crime directed against people of Jewish faith,” he said in a Chanukah message on Dec. 24.

“From the hate-filled mob that gathered on the steps of Sydney Opera House to the firebombing of Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue, intolerable incident after intolerable incident has been tolerated due to a vacuum of political leadership.”